Lou St. Laurent

Ocean Mixing Lab: Studies

The thermodynamic properties of the ocean, such as temperature, salinity, and buoyancy, and dynamic
properties, such as momentum, energy, and vorticity, are governed by numerous hydrodynamic processes.
These include:

Turbulent processes, such as diffusion and mixing

Internal waves and internal tides, wave-wave interactions

Boundary-layer processes, such as friction and topographic drag

Buoyancy forcing, heating and cooling by the atmosphere

Convection, double diffusion, and hydrostatic instability

Research

OML research is concerned with small-scale physical processes occurring within the interior of the
ocean. These processes include waves, turbulence, diffusion, and convection. All are involved in ocean
mixing.

Studies are specifically aimed at understanding the influence of these small-scale physical phenomena
on the larger-scale ocean circulation. These studies generally focus on energy exchanges between different
classes of fluid motion. This includes the transfer of tidal energy that occurs when large-scale tidal
flows interact with the topography of the sea-floor to produce waves. These investigations are based
on the analysis of oceanographic data, including direct measurements of turbulence made during sea-going
field programs.